Self-closing cap for containers such as cans and the like

ABSTRACT

A self-closing container cap consisting of a cap body and a disk valve and in which the cap body has an annular lower wall or band or skirt forming the lower portion of said cap body, the inside wall thereof having inwardly facing spaced circumferential ribs adapted to receive therebetween the top rim of the container whereby the cap body is detachably secured to the container, with the cap body having an upper wall extending upwardly of the annular lower wall and with said upper wall having a spout at the front thereof, with said cap body having a dome-shaped top wall connected to said cap body and provided with an opening adjacent said spout. The cap body and the disk valve are formed of a plastic material which is sufficiently pliable to permit the disk valve to be inserted into the cap body through the open bottom of the cap body and to be floatingly positioned in said cap body below said dome-shaped top and above the upper inwardly circumferential rib.

United States Patent [1 1 Levin 1 Sept. 23, 1975 1 SELF-CLOSING CAP FORCONTAINERS SUCH AS CANS AND THE LIKE Myron M. Levin, Highland Park, Ill.

[73] Assignee: E-Z Por Corporation, Niles, 111.

[22] Filed: June 27, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 483,682

[75] inventor:

Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Hadd Lane Attorney,Agent, or FirmMax R. Kraus [57] ABSTRACT A self-closing container capconsisting of a cap body and a disk valve and in which the cap body hasan annular lower wall or band or skirt forming the lower portion of saidcap body, the inside wall thereof having inwardly facing spacedcircumferential ribs adapted to receive therebetween the top rim of thecontainer whereby the cap body is detachably secured to the container,with the cap body having an upper wall extending upwardly of the annularlower wall and with said upper wall having a spout at the front thereof,with said cap body having a dome-shaped top wall connected to said capbody and provided with an opening adjacent said spout. The cap body andthe disk valve are formed of a plastic material which is sufficientlypliable to permit the disk valve to be inserted into the cap bodythrough the open bottom of the cap body and to be floatingly positionedin said cap body below said dome-shaped top and above the upper inwardlycircumferential rib.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 3,907,177

46 44 FIG 2 36.

SELF-CLOSING CAP FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS CANS AND THE LIKE BRIEF SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a self-closing container cap,

particularly useful for cans and the like and may likewise be used inconnection with containers such as bottles.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a cap of theforegoing characteristics which is formed of a plastic material such aspolyethylene or the like which is sufficiently pliable and non-rigid sothat the cap may be formed essentially of two parts, namely, a cap bodywhich includes a spout and a top end wall integrally formed and asanother second component a disk valve which is inserted into the capbody through the bottom open end of the cap body to be floatinglysupported in the cap body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cap body which may bequickly attached to and detached from the containers and whichprovidesan adequate seal onthe mouth of the container and includes afloating disk valve to seal off the contents in the container againstcontamination or absorption of odors.

Another object of this invention resides in the simple and inexpensivemanner of manufacturing the cap and the manner in which it is easilyassembled, the entire unit being formed of two parts, namely, a cap bodyand a separate disk valve which is insertable into the cap body throughthe bottom open end of the cap body and so constructed that when thecontainer is in upright position the disk valve will form a closure forthe container, yet when the container is tilted the disk valveautomatically moves and/or floats to a position adjacent the spoutopening to permit the liquid contents of the container to be dischargedthrough the spout opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cap which is animprovement over the type of self-closing cap shown in US. Pat. No.2,730,273.

7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the capforming this invention. I

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof as applied to the top of a canor container.

FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view showing same applied to thecontainer and with the disk valve in closed position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the cap in tilted orpouring position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken on lines 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view taken on the underside of the disk valve showingparticularly the spaced ribs.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the disk valve.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the disk valve.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view with the disk valve seated in thecap: and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line l0--l0 of FIG. I.

The conventional container in the form of a can as shown herein isindicated by the numeral 12, which is provided at the top with theconventional annular p'e ripheral bead or rim l4 and with the top end ofthe can closed by a horizontal top wall 16. When the cap of thisinvention is used in connection with such a closed container a pair ofspaced openings 18 are punched in the top wall 16 and the cap of thisinvention is then attached to the upper rim or bead 14 of the container.When so attached the device serves as a self-closing cap for thecontainer as well as a pouring spout therefor.

The cap body as well as the valve disk are each separately molded of aplastic material such as polyethylene which is relatively pliable ordeformable to permit the valve disk to be inserted into the cap body andto be retained therein in an operating floating condition. The cap bodygenerally indicated at 20 has an annular skirt or band 22 which formsthe lower portion of the cap body. The inside wall of said skirt or bandis provided with an upper inwardly facing circumferential rib 24 and aspaced lower inwardly facing circumferential rib 26. The ribs 24 and 26are each of triangular shape in cross section. The lower circumferentialrib 26 is adjacent the bottom or mouth edge of the skirt 22 while theupper circumferential rib 24 is adjacent the top of the skirt.

Extending upwardly of the skirt 22 is an upper wall generally indicatedat 28 which flares outwardly of the skirt 22 and which for its majorportion is annular and follows the annular portion of the skirt 22except for the front portion which extends outwardly and forwardly asindicated at 30 to form the front pour spout generally indicated at 32.The shape of the front spout end is generally ovaloid as viewed inFIG. 1. The upper outwardly flared wall 28 continues from the reartoward the front to form the generally ovaloid shaped front spout. Thepour spout 32 is provided with a centrally channeled surface 34, as bestshown in FIG. 10.

Formed as an integral part of the upper flared wall 28 is a dome-shapedtop generally indicated at 36, the annular peripheral edge 38 of whichis integrally secured to the inside of the upper flared wall 28 alongsaid peripheral edge as it is molded as part of same and same extends tothe front portion which is provided with an arcuate-shaped cutout 40adjacent the spout end 32. The arcuate-shaped cutout in the domed topforms the outlet through which the liquid is poured as it enters thespout when the container is tilted or tipped. The top rim 42 of theoutwardly flared upper wall 28, best shown in FIG. 2, which extends fromthe rear portion curves downwardly as at 44 and then rises at itsforward end as at 46 at the spout end and, as will be seen in FIGS. 2and 3, the central portion of the dome 36 extends above the plane of theshallow portion of the rim.

The floating annular-shaped disk valve generally designated at has abeveled peripheral edge 50 and spacedly formed along said beveled edgeare small projections or ribs 52 which are adapted to engage the upperbeveled or inclined surface 24 of the upper circumferential rib 24. Theangle of the upper surface 24' of the rib 24 is substantially the sameangle as the bevel 50 of the disk valve 48 so that the disk valve whenin its seated or closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, will seat againstsaid beveled surface 24' but will be slightly spaced therefrom by virtueof the ribs or projections 52 on the floating disk valve 48. When thecontainer and cap are tilted, as shown in FIG. 4, the forward portion ofthe disk valve 48 will tilt away from its seated position of FIG. 3 toprovide an opening entrance into the spout 32 so that the liquid fromthe container can pour through the spaced opening 18 and through thecutout or opening 40 at the front and into the spout and flow throughthe channel portion 34 of the spout to be discharged therefrom. When thecontainer is tilted to its upright position as in FIG. 3, the float disk48 assumes its substantially horizontal position and falls by gravity tothis position to close the top of the container. The dome-shaped top 36is provided with an opening 54 to assure the free flow of the containercontents when tilted.

Due to the construction and the material of which the device is formed,the closure disk valve 48 is initially inserted into the cap bodythrough the bottom of the cap body and there is sufficient flexing topermit the disk valve to pass upwardly of the two circumferentiallyspaced ribs 26 and 24 until it is lodged in the position shown in FIG. 3where it rests on the upper beveled surface 24 of the rib 24, in whichposition it is retained during the use of the device.

The cap can be readily snapped on the rim of the can or container andthe skirt 22 of the cap surrounds the rim of'the can with the bead 14 ofthe can positioned between the circumferential ribs 24 and 26 whichretains the cap on the rim.

It will be readily apparent that after the liquid in the container hasbeen exhausted that the device maybe readily removed from the rim of thecontainer and used on another container, therefore, it is capable ofcontinued reuse.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-closing container cap consisting of a cap body and a diskvalve and in which the cap body has an annular lower wall or band orskirt forming the lower portion of said cap body, the inside wallthereof having inwardly facing spaced circumferential ribs, with theupper rib of triangular shape in cross-section, said spaced ribs adaptedto receive therebetween the top rim of the container, whereby the capbody is detachably secured to the container, an upper wall extendingupwardly of the annular lower wall, said upper wall having a spout atthe front thereof, a dome-shaped top wall connected to said cap body andprovided with an opening adjacent said spout, a disk valve floatinglypositioned in said cap body below said dome-shaped top and above theupper rib and having a beveled peripheral edge to correspond to the topsurface of said upper rib so that it seats thereon.

2. A cap as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper wall of the cap isflared outwardly of the lower portion, with said flared portionextending around the domeshaped top and with the front of said flaredportion forming the spout of said cap.

3.'A cap as set forth in claim 1 in which the spout is provided with acentral channel therein forming a guideway for the liquid dischargedthrough said spout.

4. A cap as set forth in claim 1 in which the peripheral edge of thedisk valve has spaced projections or ribs which rest on the top surfaceof the upper rib.

5. A self-closing container cap consisting of a cap body and a diskvalve and in which the cap body has an annular lower wall or band orskirt forming the lower portion of said cap body, the inside wallthereof having inwardly facing spaced ribs adapted to receivetherebetween the top rim of the container, whereby the cap body isdetachably secured to the container, an upper wall extending upwardly ofthe annular lower wall, said upper wall having an outwardly flared upperportion which has a top rim and having a spout at the front thereof, adome-shaped top wall having a peripheral edge lying adjacent to andconnected to said outwardly flared upper portion of said cap body, saiddomeshaped top wall having an arcuate-shaped cutout at the front thereofwhich forms the outlet opening adjacent said spout, said spout having achanneled surface to guide the liquid through said spout, saiddome-shaped top wall having a portion thereof extending above said toprim with the front portion of said dome-shaped top wall extending belowthe top rim adjacent the spout end, a disk valve floatingly retained insaid cap body below said dome-shaped top and above the upper rib, saidcap body and disk valve each formed of a thermoplastic material such aspolyethylene having at least a slight flexing and wherein the disk valveis inserted through the bottom open end of the skirt or lower annularportion of the cap body.

6. A self-closing container cap consisting of a cap body and a diskvalve and in which the cap body has an annular lower skirt forming thelower portion of said cap body, said lower portion having means wherebythe cap body is detachably secured to a container, an upper wallextending upwardly of the annular lower wall and flared outwardly ofsaid annular lower wall with the front of said flared upper wallextending forwardly and forming the spout of said cap body, a circulartop wall within said outwardly flared portion and connected to said capbody, with the annular peripheral edge of the top wall below the top rimof said outwardly flared upper wall, said annular top wall having anoutlet opening adjacent said spout, an inwardly facing annular ribextending around the inside of said cap body below said top wall andformed integrally with said cap body, a circular disk valve floatinglypositioned in said cap body below said top wall and adapted when saidcap body is in a horizontal position to rest on said inwardly facingannular rib in a floating position and close the outlet opening belowsaid outlet opening, said top wall extending in an inclined upward planefrom the rear toward the front so that the rear of the top wall iscloser to said inwardly facing rib adjacent the rear of the rib than isthe front of said top wall to said inwardly facing rib adjacent thefront of the rib, with the distance between the top wall and the ribincreasing progressively from the rear toward the front so that when thecap and container are tilted downwardly for pouring position thecircular disk valve will be inclined toward the top wall at the front ofsaid disk valve and will have a limited tilt at the rear of the valveand a greater tilt at the front with respect to the outlet opening inthe top wall so that the front of the disk valve will be in closeproximity to the underside of the top wall adjacent the outlet openingto permit passage of the container contents through said outlet openingand said spout, and said disk valve adapted when the container ispositioned in an upright position to move by gravity to a substantiallyhorizontal position to rest on said rib to close said outlet opening andcover the top of the container.

7. A cap as set forth in claim 6 in which the cap body and disk valveare each formed of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene and inwhich the disk valve is inserted through the bottom open end of theskirt or lower annular portion of the cap body.

8. A cap as set forth in claim 6 in which the cap and disk are eachmolded of a plastic material and in which the top wall has anarcuate-shaped cutout at the front to form the outlet opening adjacentthe spout.

1. A self-closing container cap consisting of a cap body and a diskvalve and in which the cap body has an annular lower wall or band orskirt forming the lower portion of said cap body, the inside wallthereof having inwardly facing spaced circumferential ribs, with theupper rib of triangular shape in cross-section, said spaced ribs adaptedto receive therebetween the top rim of the container, whereby the capbody is detachably secured to the container, an upper wall extendingupwardly of the annular lower wall, said upper wall having a spout atthe front thereof, a dome-shaped top wall connected to said cap body andprovided with an opening adjacent said spout, a disk valve floatinglypositioned in said cap body below said dome-shaped top and above theupper rib and having a beveled peripheral edge to correspond to the topsurface of said upper rib so that it seats thereon.
 2. A cap as setforth in claim 1 in which the upper wall of the cap is flared outwardlyof the lower portion, with said flared portion extending around thedome-shaped top and with the front of said flared portion forming thespout of said cap.
 3. A cap as set forth in claim 1 in which the spoutis provided with a central channel therein forming a guideway for theliquid discharged through said spout.
 4. A cap as set forth in claim 1in which the peripheral edge of the disk valve has spaced projections orribs which rest on the top surface of the upper rib.
 5. A self-closingcontainer cap consisting of a cap body and a disk valve and in which thecap body has an annular lower wall or band or skirt forming the lowerportion of said cap body, the inside wall thereof having inwardly facingspaced ribs adapted to receive therebetween the top rim of thecontainer, whereby the cap body is detachably secured to the container,an upper wall extending upwardly of the annular lower wall, said upperwall having an outwardly flared upper portion which has a top rim andhaving a spout at the front thereof, a dome-shaped top wall having aperipheral edge lying adjacent to and connected to said outwardly flaredupper portion of said cap body, said dome-shaped top wall having anarcuate-shaped cutout at the front thereof which forms the outletopening adjacent said spout, said spout having a channeled surface toguide the liquid through said spout, said dome-shaped top wall having aportion thereof extending above said top rim with the front portion ofsaid dome-shaped top wall extending below the top rIm adjacent the spoutend, a disk valve floatingly retained in said cap body below saiddome-shaped top and above the upper rib, said cap body and disk valveeach formed of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene having atleast a slight flexing and wherein the disk valve is inserted throughthe bottom open end of the skirt or lower annular portion of the capbody.
 6. A self-closing container cap consisting of a cap body and adisk valve and in which the cap body has an annular lower skirt formingthe lower portion of said cap body, said lower portion having meanswhereby the cap body is detachably secured to a container, an upper wallextending upwardly of the annular lower wall and flared outwardly ofsaid annular lower wall with the front of said flared upper wallextending forwardly and forming the spout of said cap body, a circulartop wall within said outwardly flared portion and connected to said capbody, with the annular peripheral edge of the top wall below the top rimof said outwardly flared upper wall, said annular top wall having anoutlet opening adjacent said spout, an inwardly facing annular ribextending around the inside of said cap body below said top wall andformed integrally with said cap body, a circular disk valve floatinglypositioned in said cap body below said top wall and adapted when saidcap body is in a horizontal position to rest on said inwardly facingannular rib in a floating position and close the outlet opening belowsaid outlet opening, said top wall extending in an inclined upward planefrom the rear toward the front so that the rear of the top wall iscloser to said inwardly facing rib adjacent the rear of the rib than isthe front of said top wall to said inwardly facing rib adjacent thefront of the rib, with the distance between the top wall and the ribincreasing progressively from the rear toward the front so that when thecap and container are tilted downwardly for pouring position thecircular disk valve will be inclined toward the top wall at the front ofsaid disk valve and will have a limited tilt at the rear of the valveand a greater tilt at the front with respect to the outlet opening inthe top wall so that the front of the disk valve will be in closeproximity to the underside of the top wall adjacent the outlet openingto permit passage of the container contents through said outlet openingand said spout, and said disk valve adapted when the container ispositioned in an upright position to move by gravity to a substantiallyhorizontal position to rest on said rib to close said outlet opening andcover the top of the container.
 7. A cap as set forth in claim 6 inwhich the cap body and disk valve are each formed of a thermoplasticmaterial such as polyethylene and in which the disk valve is insertedthrough the bottom open end of the skirt or lower annular portion of thecap body.
 8. A cap as set forth in claim 6 in which the cap and disk areeach molded of a plastic material and in which the top wall has anarcuate-shaped cutout at the front to form the outlet opening adjacentthe spout.